Why Fast Action Is a Leadership Skill—And What It Says About Your Sense of Self-Worth
- Kenya Dunn
- Oct 31
- 3 min read
By Kenya Dunn, Founder of The POWER Tribe
“I think this is the right thing to do, but I’m not sure.”
“I want to, but…”
I can’t tell you how many times in my life and career I’ve said or silently thought those exact words. Even when I didn’t speak them out loud, my actions showed them. You could see it in the hesitation, the procrastination, the endless “thinking about it.”
Let’s tell the truth: the moments that define our leadership and our lives often come down to one simple choice, act now or wait.
And too often, we wait.
We wait because we don’t feel “ready.”
We wait for more information, more validation, more perfection.
We wait for someone else to name the thing we already know deep in our spirit.
But here’s the truth: when you are rooted in Radical Sacred Self-Love, you stop waiting. You stop abandoning yourself in the moment of decision. You move. Not because you have all the answers, but because you trust your worth, your voice, and your power.
What Radical Sacred Self-Love Has to Do with Fast Action
Radical Sacred Self-Love isn’t just a concept.
It’s a return to your truth. It’s the embodied knowing that your instincts are sacred, your presence is needed, and your leadership is divine.
When you love yourself radically and sacredly, you:
Don’t delay your dreams because someone else can’t see them.
Don’t second-guess your gut just to keep the peace.
Don’t silence your brilliance because you fear being “too much.”
You act. You move. You trust. Because you know.
Why We Hesitate
Let’s name the deeper truth: hesitation is rarely about logistics. It’s about conditioning.
Especially for women, and particularly for Black and Brown women, we have been culturally and socially shaped to believe that moving boldly, just for ourselves, is selfish.
We’ve been taught that if our actions don’t directly benefit others, they’re not worthy of our time.
So even when we know something would add value to our lives and our growth, we hesitate.
We talk ourselves out of the trip, the opportunity, the investment, the shift, because somewhere deep down, we’ve been taught that choosing ourselves is indulgent.
But the truth is this: doing something just for you is not selfish. It’s sacred stewardship of your own becoming.
Hear me when I say, "We were never meant to lead from hesitation."
In my work with 100s of women leaders, here is how I would summarize the reasons we hesitate:
We’ve been conditioned to over-prepare and under-declare.
We fear that failure will be seen as proof we shouldn’t have tried.
We’ve been rewarded for staying small, quiet, and agreeable.
We’ve been told to wait our turn when the table was never built with us in mind.
But leadership rooted in self-worth doesn’t wait for permission. It moves in alignment.
What the Data Tells Us
HP found that women apply for a job only if they meet 100% of the qualifications, while men apply at 60%.
Over 70% of high-achieving women experience impostor syndrome, often leading to hesitation and self-doubt.
Research shows that decisive leaders are perceived as more competent—even when their decisions aren’t perfect.
In short? Confidence and clarity build credibility. Waiting does not.
What Fast Action Says About Your Self-Worth
Fast action isn’t recklessness, it’s reverence.
It says:
✔️ I believe I am worthy of movement.
✔️ I don’t need perfection to begin.
✔️ I trust that even if I fail, I will rise in integrity and growth.
✔️ I love myself enough to stop waiting for permission.
Fast action is a reflection of how deeply you believe in your own sacred value.
Final Thought
Fast action isn’t about hustle. It’s about alignment. It’s about loving yourself enough to trust your timing, your knowing, and your calling.
So what are you asking us to do, Kenya?
I’m glad you asked.
In a world that is changing ever so fast, we need leaders who take fast action.
Decisiveness. Agency. Ownership. That’s the call of the moment.
The next time you feel the pull to move, move.
And if you find yourself stuck and needing some guidance, pause and ask yourself these three empowering questions:
Where am I currently hesitating in my life or leadership? Why?
When have I moved quickly in the past and how did that serve or teach me?
If I believed I was truly worthy of success, visibility, and leadership, what would I do today?
That’s where your next move lives.
That’s leadership.
That’s self-worth.
That’s power.
In Light, Love & POWER
-Kenya
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